Motor-vehicle.



L. W. BURRELL.

MOTR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.31, 191s.

'Patented 0015.111914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES 4 1 ,jZIZLL'ZeZZ L. W. BURRELL.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

2 SHEETb-SHEET 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES UNITED A sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

LoEY w. BUERELL, or nBAINEED, MINNESOTA, AssIGNoE To ALBERT ANGEL, or BEAINEEn, MINNESOTA.

MoToE-vEHIcLE.

T all lwhom it may concern:

citizen of the United States, residing at Brainerd, in the county of.Crow Wing and .5 State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Motor-Vehicle, of which the following is a speciiication. Y i

The invention relates to improvements in motor vehicles.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofmotor vehicles, and to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive motor vehicle running gear of light, strong and durable construction, having a' single central traction wheel` and adapted to dispense with complicated and. expensive differential gearing, and equipped. with a pair of connterbalancing wheels, located at opposite sides of the central trac.

tion wheel and adapted to enable the same to travel over any and. all conditions of ground surface. Y

A, further objectof thev invention is to provide yieldably mounted counterbalancing lwheels adapted to permit the central traction wheel to dro-p into depressions and ride over obstructions without' affecting their position fon the surface of the roadway, 'and capable 'also of independent movement, whereby one of the counterbalancing wheels may surmount an obstruction while the other is traveling-in a rut.

Y lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in vtheconstruction and novel combination of part hereinafter fnllv described, illustrated in t 1e accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proport1on,s1ze and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing rom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages'of the invention.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a plan,

view partly in section of the rear portion of a motor vehicle running gear, constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, illustrating the manner ofsecuringthe body supporting springs and the axle to the frame of the running gear. Fig; 4 is a transverse sectional View on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. y Fig. 5 is a similar view, illustrating the independent actionv of the coun- Speciiication of Letters Patent.

Application led March 31, 1913.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914. serial No, 758,033.

'-terbalancing Wheels. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. v Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts invall the figures of t-he drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which n is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a central pneumatlcally tired traction wheel, designed to be arranged at the rear portion of the running gear frame of a motor vehicle of any .character and mounted on a relatively fixed v rear axle 2, and equipped at its hub with a sprocket Wheel 3 meshing with a sprocket chain 4, which connects the traction wheel with the engine (not shown) loi the motor vehicle. The traction wheel may be of any desired const-ruction and any other form of gearing may be employed for transmitting,r 'motlonfrom the engine or motor to the traction wheel. The sprocketwheel 3 may be mounted Von an extension of the hub of the traction wheel, as illustrated in the ac. -companylng drawings, or it may be connected with the traction wheel in any other suitable manner, and set collars 6 are secured to the axle 2 at opposite sides of the traction wheel to maintain the same in a. central position on the axle.

Only the rear portiony of the running gearframe is \illustrated, in Vthe accompanying drawings, and, as shown, it consists of longitudmal reach bars 7, rear side braces 8, a

rear transverse connecting bar 9 and a transverse rod 10located in advance of the rear aXle and piercing the front ends of the braces and the adjacent portions of the reach bars 7, as clearly illustrated in Fig; 1 of the drawings. The side. braces are bowed outwardly, and their front terminals are -secured to the reach bars by the said rod 10,

rand their rea-r terminals are fastened to the rear ends of the lreach bars and 'to the rear transverse bar 9 by bolts 11, or'othery suit-` able fastening devices. The terminal portions of therear axle 2 are equipped with bearing sleeves 12, provided withv openings for the reception' of the rearaxle and having alined hearing.- openings. 13 for the reception of inner spindle or pivot portions of axle sections 14, having- 4outer cranks 15 and receiving ,on their spindle portions 15 counterbalancing Wheels 16. Thefsleeves 13, which may be constructed in any suitable manner, are secured at their inner ends tothe reach bars by bolts 17 ,and they lare providedat their outer portions with ears 18, arranged in pairs and receiving U-bolts 19, which secure the sleeves and' body supporting springs 20 to the outwardly bowed side bars or braces 8 of the frame of the running gear. .The springs 20, which maybe of any'preferred form to suit the character of motor vehicle, are mounted directly over the rear axle, and they are designed to be connected with longitudinal bars or members 21 of the body (not shown) "in thel usual manner, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The crank axle sections `are provided at their innertransverse bearing portions with ixed collars 22, which'arevarran'ged at the outer ends of the sleeves, and the axle 4sec-- tions are secured in the -sleeves by means'of.

detachable collars 23,' arranged on the inner ends of the axle sections and secured to the same' by pins 24, or other suitable `fasten-v` ing devices. The counterbalancing wheels 16, which are shown in the drawings as f pneumaticallytired, may beofany suitable construction, and they are secured on the outerspindle' portions of the'crank axle sections by suitable axle nuts 25.- The crank axle sections, which are independently movable, have their cranks extending rearwardlyy from their 'inner transverse portions, andlthey arefprovided'fat the inne'l` ends-ofthe cranks with 'upwardly extendingarms 26, arranged" at rightangles to the cranks andv havingl connectedA tov themthe frontends Iof a pair of longitudinally disposed coiled'springs 27, which are secured at their re'arfe'nds, to the terminals of the rear transverse bar or member 9 of the frame 'of vthe running gear. The transverse bar'or member 9. projects laterally at each side. ot `the frame of the running gearto form .i'xed'arms28,' and its' terminals are in substantial' alincment with the inner'ends of the cranks of the'axle sections. The arms 26,'which are vertical whenthe'.' cranks are in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2

of the drawings, are providedv at theirl upper' counterbalancing 'action to* maintain the y f motor'vehicletowhi'ch' they are applied in an .upright position'.`

, The' weight ofthe motor. vehicle is sustained'bythe` central traction wheel at all times, and 'th'tractive f or'ce is not affected by the 'counte'rbalancing"action of the side` wheels. lr The independently movable counterbalancing sidewheels permit the central tractionwheel .to ride in ruts and to ass over `obstructions without affecting tieir posltion on the surface of the roadway, and

their' independent movement also enables lthe traction wheels to adapt themselves to the character of the roadway without affectingthe action of the central traction wheel, as for instance,'ne of the counterbalyancing side wheels may be traveling in alrut and the other riding over anl obstruction while the central tractionwheel is running on a level surface. The yieldably mounted counterbalancing wheels enable the central traction wheel to travel over any character of road surface, and they also enable a rectangular vehicle body to be employed and do not require any change or alterationin'the construction of the latter to suit the central support ai'orded by the traction wheel, which is adapted toI dispense with the differential gearing and other complicated and expensive mechanism incident to theerriployment of a pair of side traction wheels. In practice, the counterbalancing side wheels will be arranged to track with the front wheels similar to the wheels of an ordinary vehicle.

What I claim is 1. A motor vehicle including a running gear frame, bearings secured to the running gear frame at opposite sides thereof, a transverse axle mounted in the 'said bearings, spacedside crank axle sections journaled in the said bearings, a central traction wheel mounted on the axle and supporting the running gear frame, counterbalancing Wheels of the same diameter as the central traction wheel and mounted on the crank axle sections, and ysprings connected with the latter and with the running gear frame for maintaining the counterbalancing wheels in constant contact with the supporting surface and adapted to permit the side wheels to yield to irregularities thereof.

2. A motor vehicle including a running gear frame, a central 'traction Wheel mounted on the running gear frame and subjected yto -the weight of the vehicle, a pair of spaced independently movable crank axle `sections located at oppositesides of the central traction wheel and having inner and outer transversely disposed spindle portions, the inner spindle portions being. journaled on the running gear frame, counterbalancing wheels Vmounted on the outer spindle portions 'of the crank axle sections, 'and springs connected with the crank axle sections and yieldably maintaining the counterbalancing Wheels in constant contact with the supporting surface. Y

3. A motor vehicle including a running gear frame, a central traction wheel sup portlng the running gear frame, spaced crank axle sections mounted on the running gear at opposite sides of the central wheel and provided with cranks and having arms rigid with and arranged at an angle to the cranks, roluiterbalancing Wheels mounted on the said cranks, and springs' connected with the said arms for yieldably maintaining the counterlmlancing Wheels in constant contact `with the supporting surface.

i. A motor vehicle including a running gear frame, a transverse axle secured to the trame,y a central tractionwheel mounted on the axle and subjected to the Weight of the motor vehicle, spaced crank axle sections journaled on the running gear at opposite sides ofthe central traction Wheel in substantially the horizontal plane of the axis thereof and having independent movement, counterbalancing Wheels mounted on the crank axle sections. and means connected with the crank axle sections for yieldably maintaining the counterbalancing Wheels in constant contact With the supportin surface, whereby the motor vehicle is ba anced on the central traction wheel and is maintained in an upright position. v

A motor vehicle including a running gear frame, a` central traction Wheel supporting the running gear frame, spaced crank axles mounted on the running gear frame in substantially the same horizontalv plane as the axis of the cent-ral traction Wheel, said crank axle sections being movable independently of each other and having rearwardly extending cranks, counterbalancing Wheels arranged `on the said cranks, and means connected with the crankV axle sections for yieldably maintaining the counterbalancing Wheels in constant contact with the supporting surface.

6. A motor vehicle including a running gear frame, a central traction wheel supporting the running gear frame, spaced crank axle sections mounted on the running gear frame for independent movement and having rearwardly extending cranks provided with sulbstantially vertical arms rigid with the said cranks, counterbalancing wheels mounted on the cranks, and coiled springs connected at their front ends with the said' arms and extending rearwardly therefrom and connected at their rear ends to relatively fixed portions of the motor ve` liicle and adapted to maintain the counter- 'balancing Wheels in constant contact with the supporting surface.

T. A motor Vehicle including a frame having tixed laterallyv projecting arms,an axle secured to the frame, 4a cent-ral traction wheel mounted on the axle and supporting the-Weight of the motor vehicle, spaced crank axle sections journaled on thesaid frame for independent movement and having cranks -attheir outer portions and provided'with arms rigid with and arranged at an angl(l to the cranks,counterbalancing side wheels mounted on the said cranks, and springs connected with the arms of the crank axle sections and With the laterally' extending arms of the frame to maintain the counterbalancing .Wheels in Vconstant Contact with the ground.

8. A mot-or vehicle including a frame, an

`axle extending across the frame, sleeves rigidly secured to the frame and receiving the terminal portions of the crank axle, a central traction Wheel mounted on the axle, spaced crank axle sections journaled in the sleeves in substantially the horizontal plane ot' the axle, counterbalancing wheels mounted on the crank axle sections, and means connected with the crank axle sections for yieldably maintaining the counterbalancing- LORY W; BURRELL.

Witnesses: l

vGao. A. KEENE, A G. lV. CHADBOURNE. 

